*^ 


jlS^ 


*"fc"^ 


^t  tut  Mtokgkifj  ^ 


%," 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


** 


% 


•BL  240  .M35  1900 
McEwen,  Joseph  w 
A"  essay  on  JJe^tion 


An  Essay  on  Creation, 


4<7.    ^/  ^--' 


(^i^nM-^i 


AN  ESSAY 


CREATION 


COMPBEHENDING  THB 


BEGINNING,    COURSE,    AND    END 
OF    TIME 


Joseph  W.  McEwen,  MX>. 


PHIL ADILPH  1.4.   NEW  YORK.   CHICAGO 

THE  F.  A.  DAVIS  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS 
1900 


COPYRIGHT,  1900, 

BT 

JOSEPH  W.  MoEWEN,  M.D, 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction, ^ 

Origin  of  the  Planet, 7 

Life  Development, ^^ 

Commingle  of  Counterpart  Gerjis  Essential  to 

Life  Development, ^^ 

Approximation  of  Time  Since  the  Initiation  of 

First  Life, ^^ 

Class  Life  Development, 23 

Nature's  Methods  of  Protection  and  Defense,    .  29 

Nature's  Defense  Against  Disease,    ...  32 

Destructive  Vitality, 37 

Air  Not  Life  Supporting, 43 

A  Eesume  of  Vitalization, 48 

Origin  of  Minerals, 52 

Formations  of  Gas  and  Oil, 55 

Pure  Carbon,  or  the  Diamond,    ....  57 
Metallic  Mineral  Formations,       .        .        .        .61 

Physical  Surface  Construction,         ...  65 

Philosophy  of  Matter, 68 

The  Relationship  of  Mind  and  Matter,    .        .  71 

(3) 


INTRODUCTION. 


Before  submitting  this  essay  to  the  pub- 
lic, I  wish  to  notice  the  fact  that  there  is  a 
popular  theory  antagonizing  science  with 
revelation,  thereby  setting  up  an  incompati- 
bility which  is  difficult  to  reconcile. 

Now,  if  these  premises  are  well  taken,  it 
must  be  conceded  that  religion  is  a  matter 
of  personal  belief,  while  philosophy  is  an 
established  fact,  because  the  operations  of 
nature  are  self-evident  and  inconfutable. 

The  existence  of  God,  or  a  supreme  ex- 
ponent possessing  unUmited  power,  coupled 
with  all  the  attributes  necessary  to  combine 
perpetuity  and  supremacy,  is  the  conviction 
of  every  true  scientist;  on  this  faith  he 
rests  the  strongest  evidence  of  natural  de- 
velopment. 

Believing  the  true  God  to  be  a  power 
which  holds  every  operation  of  nature  in  the 
hollow  of  His  hand,  guiding  and  directing 
their  consummation   through  cycles  of  all 

(5) 


6  INTRODUCTION. 

ages  and  even  beyond,  to  a  period  when 
time  will  meet  and  unite  with  eternity. 

On  these  conditions,  and  with  the  proofs 
and  deductions  set  forth,  I  now  submit  the 
rest  to  impartial  scrutiny  for  a  verdict. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Origin  of  the  Planet. 

When  contemplating  nature's  methods 
of  consummation,  it  seems  physically  pos- 
sible   that    there    should    be    concomitant 
means  of  bringing  about  all  results,  no  mat- 
ter how  complicated  they  may  appear.     Un- 
doubtedly a  first  cause  must  precede  first 
life ;  consequently  reason  ought  to  be  ade- 
quate to  a  solution  of  primary  construction 
of  a  planet  like  the  one  we  now  inhabit, 
when  bringing  into  account  the  millions  of 
other   planets   which   have    preceded    ours, 
and  have    for  numberless  years  been  spin- 
ning their  course  through  space  at  such  a 
rapid  rate ;  it  would  appear  reasonable  that 
there  must  necessarily  be  a  great  amount  of 
stray  gases  left  in  their  wake. 

The  nearest  conception  of  space  ex- 
pressed would  be  vacuum  unbounded ;  not- 
withstanding that  this  infinite  expanse  is 
not     absolutely     void,     its     representatives 

0) 


CREATION. 


are  so  remote  from  each  other  that  the 
distance  is  almost  immeasurable,  but  to  the 
light  of  vision  they  would  seem  countless. 
It  is  reasonable  to  conjecture  that  each 
individual  planet  is  surrounded  by  an  at- 
mosphere of  gaseous  compounds  corre- 
sponding to  its  bigness  or  bulk,  a  part  of 
which  is  continually  being  detached  and 
left  to  stray  and  float  about  undisturbed, 
but  cannot  in  any  way  be  returned  to  the 
original  source,  conclusively  must  be  left  to 
remain  and  further  accumulate  until  by 
attraction  and  cohesion  they  begin  to  indi- 
vidualize as  a  distinct  body ;  this  being 
once  established,  the  accumulation  must  be 
very  rapid  until  a  vast  dimension  may  be 
attained. 

By  chemical  action,  brought  about  by 
the  contact  of  different  characteristic  gases 
which  are  most  likely  to  be  conglomerated, 
also  by  the  force  of  attraction  and  repul- 
sion, caused  by  currents  accessory  to  the 
influence  of  other  already  developed  bodies 
in  the  course  of  their  circuit,  must  of 
necessity  develop  a  most  tempestuous  com- 
motion, resulting  in  a   series   of  electrical 


ORIGIN   OF   THE   PLANET. 


explosions,  which  would  materialize  these 
aeriform  fluids,  and  develop  substance  which 
naturally  must  gravitate  to  a  center,  form- 
ing a  nucleus,  giving  birth  to  a  globe  of 
molten,  seething  matter,  to  be  momentarily 
increased  by  further  explosions  from  fric- 
tion, brought  about  by  constant  disturbance 
of  the  fluids,  which  on  the  outer  or  more 
remote  limits  are  exceedingly  ethereal  and 
intensely  frigid.  These  gases  through  a 
natural  circulatory  process  are  driven  in 
contact  with  the  glowing  heat  of  the  mete- 
oric mass,  then  through  chemical  changes, 
again  are  forced  back  into  the  surrounding 
strata,  producing  a  continuous  round  of 
circulation ;  this  action  continually  going 
on  for  a  period  of  millions  of  years  could 
transform  these  liquids  by  a  gradual  proced- 
ure to  a  more  solid  mass,  and  through  the 
cycles  of  time  would  most  likely  consume 
all  the  surrounding  pabulum,  and  in  the 
course  of  events  commence  to  cool  down 
and  form  into  solids ;  also  by  the  admixture 
of  the  outer  cold  strata  with  the  superheated 
currents  near  the  surface  should  eventually 
produce  other  chemical  reactions,  sufficient 


10  CREATION. 

to  generate  immense  volumes  of  aqueous 
vapors ;  these,  by  expansion,  must  be  carried 
into  the  surrounding  and  more  remote 
atmosphere,  there  to  be  condensed  and 
changed  into  water,  facilitating  a  rapid  cool- 
ing down,  until  by  spontaneous  evolution 
the  globe  would  become  so  tempered  as  to 
produce  a  condition  precursory  to  receiving 
the  influence  of  that  great  life-inspiring 
Power  at  Whose  touch,  as  by  a  magical 
flash,  universal  vitality  burst  into  an  ocean 
of  counterpart  living  sparks,  which  set  in 
motion  the  whole  system  of  life-power,  mys- 
teriously ushering  in  the  dawn  of  primeval 
parentage. 

There  is  but  little  doubt  that  comets  are 
nothing  short  of  planets  in  the  incipient 
stage  of  development,  which  in  the  fullness 
of  time  will  take  their  places  in  the  ranks  of 
the  celestial  multitude,  adding  other  links 
to  that  unending  chain  which  bounds  the 
incomprehensible  limit  of  space. 


CHAPTER  11. 

Life  Development. 

The  springing  into  existence  of  the  pri- 
mary spark  of  vitality  formed  the  basis,  or 
foundation,  which    supports   all   the  varied 
forms   of    organic    substances.       This   one 
touch  of  nature  electrified,  animated,  cre- 
ated, and  initiated  every  form  of  hfe  with 
as   much   accuracy  as   the   artist's   camera 
stamps  the  image  by  the  rays  of  the  same 
first  cause.      This   universal  act  was  per- 
formed by  a  most  reasonable  and  account- 
able process.     Heat  and  light  acting  upon 
and  tempering  water  to  a  certain  condition, 
causing  the  nascent  state,  eventually,  as  by 
magic,  produced  the  germs  which  were  sub- 
sequently requisite  to  reproduce  every  form 
of    vitality;     consequently   establishing,   in 
the  twinlding  of  an  eye,  the  whole  of  the 
great  fact  of  First  Parentage,  all  else  being 
the  result  of  time,  place,  and  circumstance. 

(11) 


1 2  CREATION. 

After  the  first  germ  is  established 
through  the  creative  process,  it  follows  that 
development  produces  a  natural  store-house 
for  future  germination.  Fecundation  and 
propagation  are  the  first  acts  of  progressive 
identity.  Each  separate  germ  subsequently 
forms  the  basis  of  a  distinct  species,  or  class, 
and  no  philosophy  can  prove  that  nature 
diverges  from  its  course ;  but  reason  plainly 
points  out  that  the  original  germ  tends 
throughout  the  course  of  time  to  the  unerr- 
ing result,  which  result  must  follow  after 
the  primary  cause  without  deviation. 

The  atom  which  nature  designs  to 
produce  (the  genus  Homo),  develops  that 
certain  species.  The  original  of  a  lion 
grows  into  a  race  that  must  identically  fol- 
low. The  same  rule  carries  out  in  relation 
to  a  fish,  a  fowl,  a  tree,  or  a  plant.  Local- 
ity— with  certain  degrees  of  atmospheric 
influence — tends  towards  facilitating  the 
growth  of  the  numerous  varieties  of  vital 
productions ;  we  have  ample  proofs  of  these  : 
millions  of  undeveloped  germs  that  pervade 
space  are  capable,  under  proper  conditions, 
of  growing  into  every  conceivable  form  of 


LIFE   DEVELOPMENT. 


13 


either  animate  or  inanimate  life,  subject  to 
their  original  design. 

Each  day  brings  forth  advances,  and 
will  continue  to  do  so  throughout  the  period 
of  ages,  and  progression  must  march  onward 
until  perfection  bursts  the  bubble  and  time 
will  be  no  more. 

Everything  within  the  bounds  of  com- 
prehension  must    have   an    initiation    and 
consequently  a  termination,  or  a  beginning 
and   an   ending.       As    soon   as   animation 
sprang  forth,  it  would  eventually  follow  that 
life  must  terminate,— vitality  not  being  self- 
supporting,  and  the  planet  being,  as  yet, 
devoid   of    organic   remains.       The   conse- 
quence  is   that   destruction    must    precede 
propagation,  which  conclusively  proves  that 
the  first  animations  were  of  a  very  ephem- 
eral character,  the  stronger  forms  absorbing 
the  weaker,  and,  at  best,  the  space  of  life 
must  have  been  of  exceedingly  short  dura- 
tion;    but  each  repetition  brings  forth  ad- 
vancement of  prolongation  and  the  strength- 
ening and  lengthening  of  the  vital  forces  as 
time   marches  onward   towards   the  period 
where  mind  and  matter,  coupled  with  reason 


14  CREATION. 

and  intellect,  become  the  factors  in  the 
progress  of  time's  mechanism. 

Although  no  direct  unfolding  of  the 
mysteries  of  the  past  through  revelation  by 
tangible  evidences  is  possible,  yet  the  light 
of  reason  is  fully  capable  of  following  out, 
link  by  link,  the  concatenations  of  circum- 
stance, until  a  chain  of  evidence  may  be 
unraveled,  without  a  single  break,  to  the 
point  where  the  condition  of  things  waved 
the  magic  wand,  producing  first  life,  or  cre- 
ating, as  it  were,  a  new  element,  which  sub- 
sequently set  into  motion  the  great  vital 
process.  The  union  or  selection  of  the 
fellow-germs,  and  the  blending  together  of 
two  atoms  of  the  same  class,  are  the  proc- 
esses of  fecundation  and  fructification — 
results  that  must  of  necessity  be  universal, 
in  order  to  assure  propagation  of  the  differ- 
ent classes  of  organic  life.  These  processes, 
once  established,  repeat  themselves,  and 
increase  by  the  convolutions  of  time,  but 
carry  out  the  same  identity,  until  a  full 
development  is  fairly  established. 

If  each  separate  class  of  germs  did  not 
accurately  maintain  its  own  specific  order, 


LIFE   DEVELOPMENT.  15 


or  class,  the  result  would  be  an  absolute 
conglomeration,  producing  nothing  short  of 
monstrosities,  as  well  as  frustrating  the  orig- 
inal purpose. 


CHAPTER  HI. 

Commingle  of  Counterpart  Germs  Essen- 
tial TO  Life  Development. 

From  the  foregoing — it  being  one  of  the 
self-evident  facts  that  the  combination  of 
germs  is  necessary  to  produce  a  single 
species — it  must  conclusively  follow  that, 
after  all  the  rudimental  germs  were  called 
into  existence,  it  was  requisite  that  each 
separate  class  should  select  its  own  fellow 
before  the  process  of  germination  of  the 
respective  classes  could  possibly  commence 
a  progressive  action.  They  also  must  be  in 
a  condition  conducive  to  the  encouragement 
of  development  in  order  that  each  separate 
atom  of  what  is  to  mature  into  the  future 
representation  of  vitality  may  attain  its 
progressive  action.  Germs  of  different 
(16) 


COMMINGLE   OF   COUNTERPART   GERMS.  17 

species  might  meet  and  pass  each  other  for 
the  period  of  a  thousand  years  witliout 
producing  any  result;  but,  as  soon  as  the 
counterparts  of  the  same  order  and  class 
come  in  contact  they  immediately  blend, 
vitalize,  and  commence  to  germinate  into 
Avhat  is  to  form  the  basis  of  each  distinct 
race.  Each  in  turn,  and  through  the 
course  of  time,  selects  its  fellow-germ,  until 
all  the  varieties,  both  of  animal  and  vege- 
table  hfe,  create  themselves  through  the 
same  process. 

Research  has  most  conclusively  demon- 
strated the  fact  that  all  organic  substance  is 
the  result  of  contact  or  mingling  of  micro- 
scopic germs,  wliich  subsequently,  through 
a  vitalizing  transition,  advance  towards  ma- 
turity and  pass  through  their  existence, 
strictly  adhering  to  the  original  identity, 
but  approaching  nearer  the  perfection  of 
complete  development,  firmly  laying  a 
foundation  on  which  must  rest  the  secret, 
as  well  as  the  solution,  of  the  great  problem 
of  First  Life. 

Life,  animate  as  well  as  inanimate,  is  an 
act  of  constant  interchange— of  demanding 


18  CREATION. 

and  supplying.  The  destructive  waste  from 
one  form  of  vitality  is  the  source  of  suste- 
nance to  another;  while  the  one  is  receiv- 
ing, the  other  is  exhausting,  acting  and 
reacting  with  a  precision  equal  to  the  rising 
and  going  down  of  the  sun ;  one  period  of 
the  diurnal  changes  favoring  one,  the  other 
another  operation,  while  all  are  being  bene- 
fited by  the  transposition  and  rotation  of 
this  kaleidoscope  of  nature's  most  admi- 
rable process.  The  refuse  of  animal  life 
supports  vegetation,  while,  in  turn,  the 
products  of  vegetation  principally  support 
the  animal,  acting  on  the  principle  of  giving 
and  taking,  thereby  augmenting  by  the 
law  of  reciprocity,  and  tending,  through  a 
sure  but  gradual  movement,  toward  a  final 
progressive  development;  advancing,  circle 
by  circle,  through  the  continuation  of  the 
space  of  time  since  the  initiation  of  the 
primary  spark  of  vitality,  and  by  a  suc- 
cessive onward  march  toward  the  comple- 
tion of  the  present  stage  of  organism,  clearly 
solving  the  many  mysteries  and  knotted 
problems  of  progressive  life.  The  foregoing 
self-evident    circumstances     unquestionably 


COMMINGLE  OF  COUNTERPART  GERMS.      19 

prove  that  organic  creation,  subject  to  the 
original  cause,  was  the  creation  of  itself. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Approximation  of  Time  Since  the  Initia 
TiON  OF  First  Life. 

It  is  feasible,  by  arithmetical  calcula- 
tions, to  place  within  the  grasp  of  human 
comprehension  an  approximation  of  the 
space  of  time  elapsed  since  the  accumu- 
lation of  organic  deposit  commenced  to 
overlay  the  original  or  primary  rocks.  In 
the  initiatory  period  of  development  the 
process  of  deposit  was  of  exceedingly  slow 
growth.  However,  later  on,  the  action 
must  of  necessity  advance  by  almost  a  geo- 
metrical progression,  in  order  to  accomplish 
such  extraordinary  results  as  the  present 
phase  of  geological  proportions  now  present 
to  the  vision  of  reason. 

The  following  calculation,  although  far 
within  the  most  reasonable  facts,  will  suffice 
to  place  before  the  thoughtful  intellect  evi- 
dence plain  enough  to  be  comprehensively 
grasped  and  fully  understood, — that  this 
(20) 


APPROXIMATION   OP    TIME.  21 

planet  which  we  now  occupy  has  been 
spmning  onward  in  its  course  for  millions 
of  years,  even  since  first  life  was  a  factor 
of  its  mechanism, — for  example,  we  may 
rationally  presume  that  within  the  space  of 
ten  years  organic  residuum  might  accumu- 
late to  the  extent  of  one-thirtieth  of  an 
inch  over  the  entire  surface  of  the  globe. 
Thirty  multiplied  by  twelve,  the  number  of 
inches  to  one  foot,  produces  three  hundred 
and  sixty  thirtieths;  this,  multiplied  by 
ten,  gives  a  period  of  three  thousand  six 
hundred  years  to  complete  one  foot  of 
organic  deposit  at  the  present  stage  of  de- 
velopment, and  allowing  one  thousand  feet 
of  surface  deposit — which  will  come  far 
short  of  the  actual  condition  of  things — 
this,  multiplied  by  three  thousand  six 
hundred,  yields,  in  plain  figures,  three 
million  six  hundred  thousand  years,  which, 
within  all  reasonable  bounds,  may,  in  per- 
fect safety,  owing  to  the  backward  result  of 
even  arithmetical  retrogression,  be  multi- 
plied by  thirty-three  and  one-third,  which 
would  bring  the  product  up  to  the  enormous 
number   of    one    hundred   and   twenty-five 


CREATION. 


millions  of  years,  and  which  is  clearly  within 
the  scope  of  reason,  based  on  the  most  sub- 
stantial and  inconfutable  data.  This  gi- 
gantic problem  proves  itself  by  the  presence 
of  organic  deposit  resulting  from  maturity 
and  decay,  or  succession  of  life  and  death, 
and  carries  within  it  the  evidence  of  immor- 
tality, which  must  and  will  continue  to 
work  out  the  progression  of  life  through  the 
ages  of  all  time. 


CHAPTEU  V. 

Class  Life  DevelopxAient. 

The  distinctive  development  in  animal 
as  well  as  vegetable  life  is  influenced  to  a 
very  great  extent  by  tbe  action  of  climate. 
Animals  of  the  lower  order  of  vitality  adapt 
themselves,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the  neces- 
sities and  demands  of  their  natural  wants, 
it  being  beyond  doubt  that  the  great  end 
and  first  law  of  life  is  the  inherent  prompt- 
ing towards  sustenance,  preservation,  com- 
fort, and  protection. 

In  high  latitudes  animals  not  in  pos- 
session of  reason  are  provided  by  nature 
with  suitable  coverings  to  preserve  warmth, 
and  also  with  physical  powers  to  withstand 
the  influences  of  atmospheric  vicissitudes, 
although,  after  fortifying  against  the  rigors 
of  winter,  they  gradually  dispose  of  the 
superfluous  covering  as  the  coldness  be- 
comes sufliciently  tempered  by  milder  cur- 
rents of  summer  air.     This  change  adjusts 

(23) 


24  CREATION. 

itself  by  a  natural  evolution  of  circumstance 
and  without  any  absolute  will-power  of  the 
recipient.  On  the  other  hand,  animals  pos- 
sessing a  greater  degree  of  discriminating 
power  and  mental  ability, — as,  for  example, 
mankind, — provide  shelter,  supply  heat,  and 
temper  the  atmosphere,  by  the  power  of 
reason,  to  the  genial  warmth  of  a  perpetual 
spring-time,  proving  that  one  grade  of  ani- 
mation makes  provisions,  while  another 
grade  is  provided  for;  showing,  however, 
that  in  both  cases  they  are  prompted  by  the 
same  cause,  viz. :  the  dictations  of  nature, 
which  have  to  be  supplied  either  by  natural 
adaptation  or  intellectual  sagacity.  Zoolog- 
ical science  distinctly  points  out  the  various 
methods  of  alimentation,  by  making  in  each 
and  every  case  a  distinctive  organic  con- 
struction to  harmonize  with  the  different 
methods  of  obtaining  sustenance,  and  with 
a  clearness  not  to  be  misunderstood  by  the 
most  casual  observer. 

The  general  outlining,  as  well  as  the 
special  construction  of  the  different  organs 
of  the  body,  substantially  reveal  each  sepa- 
rate method  of  obtaining    subsistence,  and 


CLASS  LIFE   DEVELOPMENT.  25 

also  show  the  progress  of  vitahty,  as  marked 
out  through  the  traces  of  time,  with  suffi- 
cient strength  to  verify  the  fact  that  the  first 
principle  of  animate  Ufe  is  the  attainment  of 
self-sustenance  and  individual  support  suffi- 
cient to  carry  out  their  identities  to  the  limit 
of    maturity.       This    being    consummated, 
nature's  act  is  complete ;  but  the  repetition 
must  continue  by  the  same  regular  process, 
carrying  out  the  productive   and  reproduc- 
tive evidence,  and  showing  that  everything 
moves    in    the    same   direction    and   tends 
towards   the    same   end,  demonstrating  the 
fact  that  First  Life  was  the  outcropping  of 
an  incidental  condition  of  circumstances. 

Evidently  vitaUzation  being  a  physical 
action  produced  by  the  process  of  heat 
tempering  water  to  a  certain  condition- 
that  condition  being  once  established,  under 
similar  circumstances  must  continue  to  re- 
produce similar  results,  thereby  establishing 
a  subsequent  law. 

There  are  innumerable  circumstances 
which  serve  to  prove  the  fact  that  life  is  a 
natural  result  produced  by  nature's  own 
generative    power,    through   an   immutable 


CREATION. 


law  and  by  a  comprehensive  process,  though 
it  conclusively  follows  that  the  primary  con- 
stituents must  be  present  at  every  moment, 
in  order  that  a  continuation  may  be  per- 
petuated— withdraw  these  prime  factors, 
and  the  whole  vital  system  will  suffer  imme- 
diate dissolution. 

Heat,  light,  and  water  tend  to  life,  but 
cold  antagonizes  it.  The  universe  is  gov- 
erned by  a  great  circulatory  process,  vitality, 
of  course,  forming  no  exception.  The 
greatest  representative  down  to  the  most 
diminutive  atom  carries  out  the  same  prin- 
ciple and  is  governed  by  the  same  law. 

As  soon  as  cold  dominates  heat  to  the 
extent  of  obstructing  the  circulatory  process, 
the  result  is  destruction  of  that  special  rep- 
resentative;  or,  if  even  a  portion  of  the 
animal  or  plant  be  affected  by  cold  to  the 
extent  of  occlusion,  the  result  is  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  part  so  affected,  demonstrating 
the  principle  that  the  opposite  of  life  carries 
out  its  precision  to  the  very  line  of  demar- 
kation. 

The  portion  of  the  globe  which  is  ex- 
empt   from    the    blighting  effect  of  cold  is 


CLASS  LIFE   DEVELOPMENT 


2t 


strikingly  marked  in  relation  to  the    char- 
acter of  its  productions.     The   general  off- 
spring of  the  soil  is  exceedingly  soft,  thrifty, 
and  succulent;    especially  so  with  the   an- 
nual  varieties.     However,  the    seasons   are 
distinctly  divided  into  humid  and  parched, 
necessitating  a  demand  upon  nature's  pro- 
tecting  power    in    favor    of    the    perennial 
varieties   against    lack    of    moisture, — e.g,, 
tropical  trees  are  provided  with  hard  fibre, 
close  texture,  slow  growth,  and  torpid  circu- 
lation, as  well   as   large,  deep   penetrating 
roots,  which  afford  resistance  to  a  long  con- 
tinuation   of  the   heated  period,  while   the 
annual  varieties  pass  away  with  the   moist 
atmosphere,  to  be  reproduced  on  its  return. 
Thus  it  is  seen  that  the  absence  of  moisture 
is  a  sure  cause  of  the  suspension  of  vitality. 
This  has   been  previously  cited  in  the  ex- 
ample of  the  deserts  of  Egypt,  where  every- 
thing lies  a  barren  waste  until  by  moisture 
the    slumbering    germs    are    resurrected— 
germs    that   without    this   influence    would 
have  slept  on  forever. 

From  the  foregoing  it  seems  that  suffi- 
cient weio-ht  of  evidence   is    given  to  bear 


28  CREATION. 

ample  testimony  in  favor  of  the  premises, 
and  further  multiplying  would  only  serve  to 
weaken  instead  of  to  strengthen  the  con- 
clusion. This  conclusion  granted,  one  of 
the  inkiest  clouds  of  darkness  is  magically 
transformed  into  a  tower  of  crystal  spray, 
reflecting  images  of  revelation  from  each 
atom  of  its  silvery  mass,  and  virtually  prov- 
ing that  the  Creator  works  by  a  fixed  law, 
and  not  by  mere  chance. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Nature's  Methods  of  Protection  and 
Defense. 

All  varieties  of  life  have  their  methods 
of  defense  and  preservation ;  all  have  their 
respective  means  of  resisting  the  incursions 
of  their  natural  enemies.  The  natural  ene- 
mies of  each  class  of  vitality  are  the  counter- 
classes  that  look  for  subsistence  from  the 
destruction  of  another  form  of  life,  to 
which,  otherwise,  they  must  succumb. 

Thus  it  follows  that  the  course  of  nature 
is  a  succession  of  preying  and  of  being 
preyed  upon.  It  also  follows,  in  order  that 
any  form  of  life  may  be  extended  to  a  great 
length  of  time,  that  it  must  necessarily  pos- 
sess power  of  superiority.  The  ephemeral 
and  defenseless  order  of  animation  is  swept 
out  of  existence  for  the  purpose  of  supply- 
ing aliment  for  a  superior  vitality.  The 
great  secret  of  longevity  is  comprehended  in 
the   one   power  of  resistance,  and  in  this 

(29) 


30  CREATION. 

respect  the  human  species  in  particular  has 
pre-eminent  superiority,  having  abiHty  to 
resist  the  discomforts  of  heat  and  cold,  as 
well  as  the  attacks  of  all  natural  enemies, 
looking  upon  them  with  careless  compla- 
cency, fully  assured  that  their  weapons  are 
but  as  harmless  arrows,  easily  diverted  by 
human  intelligence,  and  reduced  simply  to 
known  but  governed  enemies.  This  power 
of  reason  also,  in  a  great  measure,  controls 
accidents,  external  violence,  and  liability  to 
injury. 

There  still  remains,  however,  a  most 
destructive  enemy  of  life — one  which  so  far 
has  been,  to  a  remarkable  degree,  compara- 
tively speaking,  overlooked,  viz.:  vitality  in 
the  form  of  microscopic  life ;  and  the  subse- 
quent object  of  this  work  will  mainly  con- 
sist in  an  attempt  to  apply  the  foregoing 
facts,  with  the  view  to  alleviate  disease,  as 
well  as  to  extend  the  natural  period  of  life 
— also,  to  point  out  methods  to  be  pursued, 
through  channels  of  research,  to  prevent  the 
liability  to  microscopic  animalcular  disease. 
Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  philoso- 
phers  of    ancient   times  were   in  complete 


PROTECTION    AND   DEFENSE.  31 

darkness  as  to  the  true  cause  of  so  much  of 
their  discomfort,  they,  nevertheless,  struggled 
against  it  with  comparative  success. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Nature's  Defense  Against  Disease. 

The  profound  philosophers  of  ancient 
times  were  so  impressed  with  the  necessity 
of  strict  obedience  to  rules  of  health  that 
they  ordained  a  goddess  to  preside  over 
regulations  pertaining  especially  to  this  sub- 
ject. The  foremost  and  supreme  command 
was  strict  obedience  to  the  laws  of  cleanli- 
ness and  purification,  although  at  tliat  time 
science  had  developed  no  revelation,  disclos- 
ing the  fact  that  life  is  one  of  the  principal 
enemies  of  life,  the  whole  of  space  being  per- 
vaded by  myriads  of  living  germs.  Every- 
thing teems  with  life ;  water,  air,  food,  even 
the  odor  exhaled  from  fragrant  blossoms — 
all  are  no  less  than  impresses  of  vital  sparks 
upon  the  sensory  nerves,  which  may  develop 
elements  of  destruction,  if  permitted  to 
mature  within  the  structure  of  the  body, 
thus  furnishing  evidence  of  the  fact  that  dis- 
(32) 


nature's  defense  against  disease.         33 

ease  or  perverted  action  of  the  system,  in 
numerous  cases,  is  only  the  result  of  a  colo- 
nization of  microscopic  vitality  in  the  differ- 
ent organs,  which,  if  allowed  to  continue 
undisturbed,  would  soon  show  evidence  of 
disease  in  the  part  so  attacked. 

The  fact  of  the  existence  of  life  needs  no 
further  proof  of  requirement  for  its  subsist- 
ence; consequently  constructive  vitality  is 
necessary  for  the  development  of  other  life 
forms.  In  pursuance  of  the  foregoing  it 
follows  that  no  vital  growth  can  possibly 
progress  without  demand  and  supply.  It 
would  be  easy  to  comprehend  the  reahty  of 
an  inability  to  erect  a  structure  without 
material  to  construct  with  ;  so  it  is  equally 
as  impossible  for  vitality  to  progress  without 
sustenance. 

It  only  remains  now  to  solve  the  great 
mystery  of  natural  progress,  actual  growth, 
character,  and  means  of  development. 

Life  and  death  are  incompatible ;  hence, 
conclusively,  we  can  immediately  grasp  the 
fact  that  dead  matter  cannot  construct  or 
even  enter  into  the  construction  of  vital 
growth. 


34  CREATION. 

Food  for  the  building  up  of  living  mat- 
ter must  be  vitalized  before  it  is  fit  for 
assimilation ;  eventually  nourishment  must 
undergo  a  vivifying  process  before  it  could 
possibly  form  a  part  in  the  structure  of  liv- 
ing tissue  or  be  appropriated  as  available 
supply. 

This  reasoning  goes  to  substantiate  a 
theory  disclosed  through  microscopic  re- 
search, which  is  that  vital  construction  is 
produced  by  means  of  cell  development, 
these  cells  deriving  their  support  through 
the  action  of  circulation,  but  must  primarily 
be  supplied  by  alimentation. 

If  it  were  possible  to  strengthen  the 
microscope  far  beyond  its  present  power  it 
would  doubtless  reveal  facts  sufficient  to 
demonstrate  that  every  cell  is  inhabited 
by  myriads  of  vital  sparks,  and  that  or- 
ganic existence  is  a  mass  of  life-germs 
equal  to  the  bulk  of  each  individual  repre- 
sentative. 

It  being  conceded  beyond  hesitancy  that 
vital  pabulum  must  be  received  in  the  form 
of  life,  and  not  as  dead  or  decaying  material ; 
also  that  the  circulatory  process  distributes 


nature's  defense  against  disease.  35 

tliose  vitalized  atoms  over  the  ^vliole  mech- 
anism,  thereby  developing  growth  as  well  as 
supplying  natural  destructive  waste. 

This    process    is    clearly   demonstrated 
through  the  action  which  is  known  to  take 
place  after  food  is  taken  into  the  receptacle 
of  advanced  animal  life  and  retained  for  a 
certain  period  to  undergo  digestion  or  other- 
wise  to  be  prepared  for  assimilation.     This  is, 
in  reality,  the  incubating  process ;  after  the 
completion  of  this  action  the  vitalized  par- 
ticles are  separated  from  the  dead  or  refuse 
matter.     The  former  are  received  into  the 
nutrient  vessels  to  be  mixed  with  the  blood 
or  life  fluid  for  the  purpose  of  building  up 
cell  growth,  the  latter  being  disposed  of  as 
refuse  matter  and  carried  out  of  the  system 
through  the  alimentary  tract,  thus  provmg 
that  digestion  is  the  process  of  vitalizing 
nourishment,  also  that  any  portion  of  food 
taken   into   the  stomach  which  fails  to  be 
capable  of  vitalization  must  be  discarded  as 

effete  matter. 

Should  any  useless  material  accidentally 
he  taken  up  and  mixed  with  vital  aliment,  it 
has  to  be  separated  from  the  circulation  by 


36  CREATION. 

means  of*  the  different  s>*lands  and  be  carried 
off  as  refuse. 

Each  individual  organ  of  the  whole  body 
has  its  office  or  function  to  perform  in  order 
to  keep  up  the  process  of  development.  If 
these  natural  operations  were  not  beset  by 
the  numerous  accidents  that  life  is  subjected 
to,  existence  might  be  prolonged  to  an  al- 
most unlimited  period.  This  conclusive 
reasoning  shows  that  the  body  or  the  single 
individual  is  a  hive  containing  millions  of 
billions  of  vital  sparks  which  have  to  be  fed 
and  supported  each  day  to  keep  in  motion 
the  machinery  of  a  solitary  representative  of 
advanced  life. 

How  vividly  the  image  must  appear 
when  it  breaks  upon  tlie  retina  of  the  mind, 
displaying  a  portrayal  of  immutable  laws 
and  self-evident  conclusions  in  abundance, 
to  dissolve  the  clouds  which  separate  the 
workings  of  the  Creator  from  the  eyes  of 
the  creature ! 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Destructive  Vitality. 
Reason    appears    to   have   conclusively 
elucidated  the  great  mystery  of  animate  ex- 
istence   by  distinctly  proving  life   to   be   a 
mass  of  vital  sparks.     It  also  appears  from 
self-evident  circumstances  that  each  separate 
individual  is  the  exponent  of  a  combination 
of  an  incompatible  constituency  or  opposmg 
forces   which   are   perpetually  antagonizing 
each  other.     The  legitimate  power  we  may 
class  as  health ;  the  opposite  is  piratical  and 
constantly   in    search    of    opportunities    to 
make  aggressive  advancements  towards  pro- 
curing possession  of  the  different  organs  of 
the  body  for  the  purpose  of  appropriatmg 
them  to  their  own  use.     This  is  destructive 
vitality  or  disease,  which  will  now  be  taken 
into  careful  consideration. 

Conceding  mankind  far  in  advance  of  all 
other  life  forms,  it  is  reasonable  to  infer 
that  progression  may  advance  until  a  final 


38  CREATION. 

point  may  be  reached  where  mind  will  con- 
trol matter  to  such  a  degree  that  the  mortal 
may  possibly  achieve  immortality. 

The  initiatory  steps  to  make  an  ap- 
proach to  such  an  end  must  be  by  a  uni- 
versal combination  of  forces  so  as  to  combat 
the  secret  and  invisible  enemies  that  pervade 
every  portal  of  life's  avenues,  and  to  bar  the 
gates  against  their  ingress.  This  can  only 
be  accomplished  through  vigilance  and  leg- 
islative restrictions.  In  these  rest  the  only 
available  means  necessary  to  remove  the 
cause  and  prevent  the  otherwise  inevitable 
result.  All  forms  of  disease  can,  in  a  great 
measure,  be  met  by  efficacious  means  and 
reasonable  precautions. 

By  baffling  the  cause  we  defeat  the  pur- 
pose. If  in  this  comparatively  conclusive 
reasoning  we  can  locate  the  bane  of  life,  it 
will  be  less  difficult  to  provide  an  antidote 
which  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  will  come 
in  due  form  through  the  perfecting  of  time's 
revolutions.  Now  there  are  three  different 
open  portals  by  which  disease  or  antagonistic 
vitality  can  easily  assail  the  system:  first, 
by   the    lungs;    second,    through    the    ali- 


DESTRUCTIVE   VITALITY.  39 

mentary  tract ;  and,  third,  by  contact   with 
the  skill  or  outer  covering  of  the  body. 

It  is  most  important,  in  the  first  place, 
to  guard  the  gates  to  the  approach  of  each 
of  these  avenues  with  sentinels  possessing 
an  absolute  knowledge  of  the  character  of 
the  enemy  to  be  repelled,  and  doubtless  the 
great  engine  necessary  to  conduct  the  van- 
guard will  be  the  microscope,  strengthened 
with  power  to  discriminate  the  character  of 
each  individual  foe  to  be  combated. 

When  the  capacity  and  ability  of  an 
enemy  is  forestalled,  victory  is  but  a  second- 
ary consideration.  However,  if  the  invad- 
ino-  force  gets  possession  of  the  system,  then 
specifics  and  panaceas  are  uncertain  de- 
pendencies—too often  a  forlorn  hope.  No 
counteracting  remedy  is  adequate  to  dispos- 
sess many  of  the  diseases  which  otherwise 
could  be  averted  by  prophylactic  means. 

The  author  of  the  adage  "  An  ounce  of 
prevention  is  of  more  value  than  a  pound  of 
cure  "  unconsciously  proclaimed  a  prophecy 
more  potential  than  anything  which  has 
ever  before  emanated  from  the  lips  of  any 
one,   either    human    or   divine,    when   we 


40 


CREATION. 


pause  to  consider  the  value  of  fortifying 
against  the  encroachment  of  destructive 
vitality  with  a  full  knowledge  of  the  dev- 
astation which  must  follow  in  its  wake  if 
allowed  to  pursue  an  undisturbed  course. 
The  prediction  stands  out  like  a  pillar  of 
fire,  illuminating  the  pathway  leading  to 
safety.  Notwithstanding  withal,  it  is  aston- 
ishing to  realize  that  it  is  possible  for  intel- 
ligence to  sleep  with  death  stalking  around 
unopposed  while  its  willing  victims  com- 
placently slumber  on,  dream,  and  behold 
visions  of  safety  until  the  last  vital  spark  is 
consumed  by  the  great  destroyer. 

If  mortals  still  close  their  eyes  and 
permit  the  enemy  to  continue  its  undis- 
turbed way,  there  is  no  likelihood  of  ever 
being  able  to  stay  its  progress. 

There  are  numerous  remedies  sujjgrestins' 
themselves  to  reasonable  minds  which  could 
be  arrived  at  with  little  difficulty ;  however, 
legislation  is  the  first  necessary  step  to  take 
towards  the  abatement  of  disease  by  contact. 
We  are  already  in  possession  of  laws  pro- 
hibitory of  the  ingress  of  infection  from 
outside   influence,  but   have  no   protection 


DESTRUCTIVE   VITALITY.  41 

from  the  scattering  of  it  by  social  inter- 
course. There  are  no  restrictions  placed  on 
individuals  of  families  who  have  the  most 
virulent  maladies  in  their  households  from 
going  to  places  of  general  business,  getting 
into  public  conveyances,  or  attending  the- 
atres or  churches.  The  church  is,  in  the 
superlative  degree,  the  hot-bed  where  con- 
tagion is  disseminated  and  propagated,  more 
especially  in  Catholic  churches,  where  serv- 
ices are  almost  perpetually  going  on,  and 
all  classes  and  every  grade,  from  the  haunts 
of  squalor  to  the  halls  of  magnificence,  are 
admitted  on  the  same  basis  and  subjected  to 
the  same  atmosphere.  The  lady  from  the 
palace  of  luxury  bows  down  side  by  side 
with  the  beggar  from  the  dens  of  filth  and 
degradation.  With  such  a  regime  as  this, 
can  contagion  ever  be  stopped  or  disease 
abolished  1 

These  are  some  of  the  many  defects 
w^hich  must  be  overcome  by  legal  restric- 
tions. The  most  obstinate  minded  will 
undoubtedly  perceive  at  a  glance  the  pro- 
priety of  modifying  the  present  state  of  sani- 
tary regulations  and  urge  a  more  restrictive 


42  CREATION. 

means  prohibiting  the  indiscriminate  ming- 
ling of  humanity. 

With  the  present  stage  of  progress  in 
science,  assisted  and  abetted  by  wholesome 
legal  enactments,  there  are  no  grounds  for 
apprehension  that,  in  a  very  short  period 
hence,  disease  will  be  baffled  and  death 
fettered  to  such  an  extent  that  the  course  of 
mortal  sojourn  on  earth  may  be  consum- 
mated and  extolled  to  so  near  a  state  of 
perfect  security  as  to  render  it  nothing  more 
than  a  voyage  of  prospective  emancipation 
tranquilly  subsiding  into  a  restful  repose 
preparatory  to  awakening  to  the  realization 
of  that  immortal  existence  which  instinct  so 
emphatically  promises  to  mankind. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Air  Not  Life  Supporting. 

The    ocean   of    fluid    surrounding   the 
earth  and  extending  for  several  miles  into 
space,  and  which  is  recognized  and  spoken 
of  as  air  would  not,  within   itself,  be   life 
supporting  as  pure  air,  but  by  the  admixture 
of  moisture  or  humidity  it  is  so  rendered, 
when  tempered  by  sufficient  heat,  which  not 
only  gives  warmth,  but,  through  expansion 
and   contraction,  produces   currents,  estab- 
lishing the  circulatory  process,  so  absolutely 
essential  for  the  purification   of  all  fluids. 
Without  this   constant   motion   destruction 
would    result    to    every   form    of    vitality. 
Thus,  the  same  reasoning  leads  to  the  same 
conclusion,  that  life  is  dependent  upon  the 
original  cause,  viz. :  the  sun  and  the  ocean. 
These  great  motive  powers  keep  up  the 
circulatory  process ;  suspend  this  action,  and 

(43) 


44  CREATION. 

the  inevitable  result  must  follow.  This 
mechanism  of  nature  is  of  most  wonderful 
precision  and  perfection,  and  in  nowise 
likely  to  get  out  of  order.  The  action  of 
the  sun  absorbs  the  moisture  from  the 
ocean,  and  the  air  acts  as  a  vehicle  to  sus- 
pend it  and  to  carry  it  through  space,  while 
attraction  and  chemical  action  cause  the 
currents,  thereby  producing  circulation  and 
condensation,  forming  clouds  to  be  dis- 
charged later  in  the  form  of  rain,  fertilizing 
the  soil,  while  the  superabundance  is  con- 
ducted through  the  natural  channels  back 
to  the  original  source,  to  be  purified  and 
returned  through  the  same  process. 

It  is  manifest  that  this  principle  of  circu- 
lation in  nature  must  be  carried  out  in  the 
operations  of  every-day  life.  If  moisture 
be  allowed  to  remain  at  rest  it  very  soon 
becomes  a  mass  of  corruption,  developing 
germs  of  vitality  and  producing  poisonous 
effects  within  the  limits  of  its  reach.  Also, 
without  ventilation  the  most  spacious  apart- 
ments become  non-tenable,  showing  that 
nature's  laws  must  be  obeyed  or  life  will  be 
the  forfeit. 


AIR    NOT    LIFE    SUPPORTING.  45 

Piieumatology  and  hydrodynamics  con- 
jointly show  that  through  the  commingling 
of  fluids  a  generating  power  is  imparted, 
giving  birth  to  the  elements  wliich  furnish 
support  for  subsequent  vitality,  and  also 
reveal  more  clearly  the  natural  development 
of  heat. 

It  is  a  generally  accepted  theory  that  the 
sun  is  not  a  heat  furnishing  source,  but  a 
heat  producer  through  natural  operations. 
The  denser  atmospheric  fluid  in  close  prox- 
imity to  the  surface  is  kept  in  active  motion 
by  the  presence  of  the  sun's  rays  producing 
chemical  changes,  together  with  mechanical 
co-action,  which  cause  great  friction,  thereby 
producing  heat  more  rapidly  than  at  a 
remote  distance  or  greater  elevation.  After 
air  becomes  rarefied  and  devoid  of  moisture 
it  is  no  loonger  capable  of  producing  heat, 
but  is  frigid  and  non-life-preserving,  show- 
ing that  heat  is  furnished  by  action,  and  not 
by  distribution.  This  conclusion  carries 
within  it  proof  that  the  primary  elements 
conjointly  combine  to  produce  even  the  first 
requisites  of  life.  These  facts  prove  that 
the  operations  of  nature  are  performed  with 


46  CREATION. 

a  nicety  of  precision  and  with  most  whole- 
some results,  while  they  also  convey  with 
every  act  an  admonition  which  must  be 
faithfully  observed,  otherwise  nature's  pen- 
alty is  sure  to  follow.  More  than  half  of 
the  discomforts  of  life  would  be  escaped  if 
this  course  were  carried  out  and  strictly 
adhered  to.  Just  as  soon  as  the  animate 
life  wars  against  the  elements  it  may  expect 
to  be  vanquished — its  destruction  is  in- 
evitable. 

Were  science  applied  to  searching  after 
the  causes  of  maladies  which  fasten  upon 
the  system  it  would  be  doubly  effective, — 
e.g.^  if  a  band  of  marauders  were  known  to 
be  approaching  a  certain  locality  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  booty,  it  would  be 
much  more  politic  to  institute  means  of  re- 
pulsion than  to  be  searching  out  remedies 
for  the  alleviation  of  possible  damages  likely 
to  be  received  at  the  hands  of  such  an 
enemy.  A  well-planned  defence  is  more 
effective  than  all  the  generalship  that  can 
be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  field  of  action ; 
and  so  it  is  with  disease;  if  the  cause  be 
searched  for,  and  proper  remedies   used  to 


AIR   NOT   LIFE   SUPPORTING.  4T 

baffle  its  progress,  the  victory  is  complete 
and  a  panacea  is  not  required.  Prophy- 
lactic measures  universally  yield  rich  results. 


CHAPTER  X. 

A  Resume  of  Vitalization. 

Having  arrived  at  a  point  where  it 
becomes  necessary  to  speak  individually  of 
the  primary  sources  of  life,  we  note,  in 
short,  that  which  has  been  attempted  to  be 
proven  in  detail,  so  as  to  comprehend,  in  a 
few  words,  the  substance  of  the  object  of 
this  work. 

Guided  by  reason  and  the  dictates  of 
supreme  laws,  we  are  forced  to  acknowledge 
that  whenever  there  is  an  effect  there  must 
be  a  cause:  consequently,  knowing  life  to 
exist,  it  follows  that  it  must  have  had  a 
source,  and,  reasoning  from  effect,  no  ra- 
tional cause  presents  itself  short  of  the  period 
when  heat  and  moisture,  combined,  devel- 
oped the  event  of  germinal  production. 

The   essentials   of  life   are   light,  heat, 

moisture,  and  motion.      The  sun  furnishes 

light,  and  its  rays,  acting  through  chemical 

and  mechanical  means,  produce  heat,  induc- 

(48) 


A   RESUME   OF   VITALIZATION.  49 

ing  currents,  and  thereby  establishing 
motion  and  circulation.  The  ocean  fur- 
nishes an  inexhaustible  supply  of  moisture, 
as  well  as  affords  a  great  reservoir  for  reno- 
vation and  purification,  and  from  this  ma- 
ternal source  springs  all  the  nourishment 
which  goes  to  the  support  of  every  atom  of 
vitality  that  exists  on  the  face  of  this  planet. 

From  the  most  careful  reasoning,  sup- 
ported by  the  laws  of  natural  philosophy 
and  substantiated  by  the  strongest  circum- 
stantial evidence  that  it  is  possible  to  bring 
to  bear  on  the  subject  to  be  proven,  all 
clearly  point  to  the  same  conclusion  that  life 
is  the  result  of  a  natural  process  produced 
through  an  action  of  the  sun's  rays  upon 
the  waters  of  the  ocean,  and  from  this  cause 
establishing  first  parentage.  Each  succes- 
sive development  is  the  perfecting  of  time's 
untiring  revolutions,  which  more  than  likely 
will  go  on  producing  and  reproducing  won- 
ders forever. 

Now  the  inevitable  consummation  of  life 
is  death,  which  may  manifest  itself  in  two 
distinct  forms,  viz. :  normal  and  abnormal. 
Normal  death  is  that  condition  where  all 


50  CREATION. 

the  vital  parts  have  respectively  wasted  their 
powers  and  terminate  with  a  restful  satisfac- 
tion, having  reached  the  attainment  of 
nature's  purpose.  Abnormal  death  is  the 
dissolution  of  vitality  as  the  result  of  acci- 
dent or  disease,  which  affects  one  or  more 
of  the  organs  of  the  body  essential  to  the 
continuation  of  life,  and  in  consequence 
demands  the  sacrifice  of  the  whole  system — 
hence  the  dread  of  this  form  of  death.  By 
far  the  most  prolific  cause  of  this  source  of 
dissolution  is  the  result  of  disease  generated 
through  microscopic  animalcular  encroach- 
ment. As  soon  as  science  provides  a 
remedy  for  the  destruction  of  microscopic 
vitality,  or  a  preventive  to  bar  the  progress 
of  minute  animal  propagation,  it  will  have 
achieved  the  crowning  act,  enabling  man- 
kind to  assume  possession  of  power  to  control 
and  extend  the  limit  of  life  to  the  true 
period  of  maturity,  as  well  as  to  mark  out 
the  approach  toward  the  terminal  point  as  a 
journey  possessed  of  pleasurable  prospects, 
beautified  with  all  the  visionary  imagina- 
tions by  which  advanced  intelligence  em- 
bellishes the  unknown  realms,  and  which 


A  rIisumIj  op  vitalization.  51 

are  hoped  and  looked  for,  but  only  to  be 
possessed  after  death  resolves  the  mortal 
into  immortality.  Such  an  advancement  of 
science  would  rob  death  of  all  its  horrors, 
and  endow  it  as  a  legacy  possessed  of  the 
magical  charm  of  a  tableau  of  the  golden 
sunset  on  the  placid  waters  of  an  undis- 
turbed sea. 


CHAPTER  XL 

Origin  of  Minerals. 

In  stepping  from  vital  productions  to 
mineral  formations  it  only  requires  addi- 
tional links  to  complete  the  chain  which 
leads  on  to  a  completion  of  nature's  consum- 
mation. 

Owing  to  the  great  importance  which 
the  carbonaceous  deposits  occupy  in  the 
economy  of  life,  they  will  be  given  primary 
consideration.  While  viewing  the  various 
strata  comprising  the  earth's  crust,  it  is 
almost  bewildering  to  the  comprehension 
how  to  dispose  of  such  a  ponderous  problem. 
Notwithstanding,  when  we  revert  to  the  fact, 
there  are  conclusive  evidences  proving  the 
space  of  time  since  the  process  of  deposit  com- 
menced to  be  far  beyond  a  hundred  milHons 
of  years  it  affords  the  intellect  greater  scope 
to  grasp  the  reahties  that  present  themselves 
for  investigation.  In  the  first  place,  I  pur- 
pose to  offer  reasons  showing  the  cause  of 
(52) 


ORIGIN   OP   MINERALS. 


53 


origin  of  the  vast  fields  or  deposits  recog- 
nized by  geologists  as  coal,  or  nearly  pure 
carbon.      It   is  almost   beyond  cavil,  from 
proofs  deduced  through  the  closest  micro- 
scopic   research,    that    coal   is    the    refuse 
deposit  from  vegetable  growth,  this  stratum 
being  similar  throughout  all  sections  of  the 
globe.     These  carbon  deposits,  almost  with- 
out   exception,   are    found  in    the    form   of 
fields  or  flats  showing  a  few  degrees  of  slope 
which  is  designated  by  miners  as  the  "  dip  " 
of  the  mines  and  is  evidence   that  at  the 
commencement   the   formations  were  on  a 
nearly  level  plain,  clearly  indicating  that  it 
is  the  accumulation  of  centuries  of  repetition 
of  growth  similar  to  that  known  to  be  pro- 
duced from  swamps  or  marshes  in  the  course 
of  a  thousand  or  more  years.     The  water, 
constantly  filtering  through  this  rooty  de- 
posit, acts  against  a  destructive  waste  and  fa- 
vors a  continuous  growth,  making  a  semi- 
solid    mass    of    carbonaceous     generating 
material.     When  this  surface  equilibrium  is 
disturbed  by  undulations  of  gases  pent  up 
in  subterranean  vaults  and  set  in  motion  by 
volcanic  disturbance  the  drainage  through 


54  CREATION. 

this  natural  process  is  cut  off  and  sufficient 
obstructions  are  developed  to  cause  these 
plains  to  be  submerged,  producing  lakes, 
and  consigning  the  carbon  deposits  to  sleep 
beneath  their  waters  for  other  thousands  of 
years,  meanwhile  to  be  enveloped  by  the 
refuse  deposits  or  destructive  waste  of  ani- 
mal life,  giving  birth  to  rocks  of  carbonated 
lime  or  mixed  concretion  as  the  circum- 
stances may  bring  about  in  a  further  devel- 
opment, and  which  must  continue  to  amass 
until  another  reaction  bursts  the  confines  of 
the  waters,  restoring  solid  surface  to  be 
again  exposed  to  the  accumulation  of  mixed 
refuse,  each  change  working  out  a  period  of 
time's  wonderful  progress. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Formations  of  Gas  and  Oil. 

In  taking  another  step  still  deeper  into 
the  mysteries  of  earth's  creative  power,  the 
afore-mentioned  facts  go  far  towards  facilitat- 
ing farther  research.  Having  rationally 
accounted  for  solid  carbons,  they  in  turn 
become  the  basis  which  may  produce, 
through  a  chemical  change,  new  results, 
viz. :  gas  and  oil,  which  are  known  to 
abound  so  extensively  within  the  deeper 
recesses  of  the  earth  and  which  are  doubt- 
less the  causes  of  the  many  changes  con- 
stantly taking  place  beneath  the  surface. 
It  has  been  demonstrated,  through  the  sink- 
ing of  very  deep  shafts  for  the  purpose  of 
mining,  that  at  these  great  depths  the  earth 
becomes  so  superheated  as  to  render  it  im- 
possible to  go  beyond  certain  limits,  giving 
sure  data  and  furnishing  good  reasons  for 
the  belief  that  beneath  these  known  limits 
the  heat  is  increased  sufficiently  to  extract 

(55) 


56  CREATION. 

and  distil  the  solid  carbons  and  dissolve 
them  into  the  form  of  gas.  This  conversion 
into  gas  causes  the  displacement  of  a  vast 
mass  of  solid  matter,  and  thereby  develops 
caverns  and  subterranean  vaults.  The  proc- 
ess, being  continued  from  century  to  century, 
must  of  necessity  open  out  vast  areas  of 
space,  which  are  filled  only  by  these  natuml 
gases.  This  action  goes  on  until  incomput- 
able bilHons  of  cubic  feet  are  excavated  or 
consumed. 

These  gases  by  great  pressure  are  forced 
through  every  fissure  and  crevice  of  the 
rocks  that  confine  them  in  place,  and  thus 
work  their  way  nearer  to  the  surface  into  a 
cooler  temperature  which  causes  condensa- 
tion, thereby  giving  birth  to  the  carbon  oils 
so  extensively  extracted  from  the  substrata 
of  the  earth,  and  which  now  fill  so  impor- 
tant a  place  among  its  mineral  products. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Pure  Carbon,  or  the  Diamond. 

The  principal  carbon  formations  having 
been  considered,  it  remains  only  to  discuss 
the  pure  form,  which  is  the  rarest  of  nature's 
productions.  It  is  known  to  be  more  com- 
pact as  well  as  to  possess  the  power  of 
reducing  every  other  mineral  substance, 
while  resisting  the  action  of  all,  demonstrat- 
ing the  impossibility  of  producing  the 
rounded  pebble  form  of  these  gems  by  any 
process  of  wear,  since  it  is  well  known  that 
nothing  but  diamond  cuts  diamond.  This 
fact  renders  it  necessary  to  look  beyond  all 
known  causes  for  this  development.  From 
an  acute  microscopical  scrutiny  it  is  found 
that  pure  carbon  is  composed  of  thin  layers, 
showing  that  its  growth  has  been  by 
accumulative  progressive  action. 

(57) 


58  CREATION. 

Diamonds  usually  are  found  in  close 
proximity  to  volcanoes  or  in  volcanic  coun- 
tries. They  are  universally  found  possess- 
ing the  same  peculiarity  as  to  shape,  show- 
ing that  the  formation  is  similar  no  matter 
in  what  region  of  the  earth's  surface  they 
may  be  produced. 

It  has  also  been  proven  that  pure  carbon, 
notwithstanding  its  wonderful  durability  and 
power  of  resistance,  can  without  difficulty 
be  consumed  by  the  action  of  heat,  showing 
that  heat  readily  disintegrates  and  resolves 
it  into  the  original  component  gases  and 
proving  that  it  is  the  compactness  of  ad- 
hesion which  gives  to  it  such  inpenetrability. 
It  is  also  the  unalloyed  personification  of 
purity.  In  it  appear  no  spots,  specks,  nor 
blemishes  which  are  likely  to  present  them- 
selves and  combine  with  all  other  produc- 
tions. It  appears  to  be  the  solitary  excep- 
tion to  that  which  otherwise  is  a  universal 
rule. 

From  reasonable  and  tangible  evidence 
the  atmosphere  remote  from  the  surface  is 
both  ethereal  and  frigid  — judging  beyond 
experiment  it  would  naturally  lead  to  a  con- 


PURE  CARBON,  OR  THE  DIAMOND. 


59 


elusion  that  at  a  very  great  distance  from 
the  surface  space  would  become  almost  a 
complete  vacuum. 

It  is  a  known  circumstance  that  volca- 
noes become,  at  times,  convulsed,  belching 
forth  volumes  of  fire  and  smoke,  as  well  as 
clouds  of  superheated  gases,  generated  by 
the    consuming    carbon    mass   within    the 
depths  of  the  earth  and  by  the  force  behind, 
driven  far  above  the  regions,  where  in  any 
likelihood  there  would  be  atmospheric  resist- 
ance, and  into  a  temperature  far  below  any- 
thing known,  but  which  no  doubt  would  be 
certainly  sufficient  to  immediately  chill  the 
carbon  gas  forming  filmy  clouds,  which  by 
a  natural  process  are  condensed  and  reduced 
to  nucleuses,  to  revolve  about  and  increase 
until  by  their  weight  and  force  of  attraction 
they  are  brought  to  the  surface  in  form  sim- 
ilar to   hailstones,  but   in    substance  pure, 
clear,  unalloyed  carbon,  thus  reasonably  dis- 
closing the  fact  that  diamonds  are  generated 
in  the  core  of  the  earth  and  subsequently 
elevated  beyond  the  reach  of  contamination 
for  gestation  and  birth,  developing  through 
a  natural  process  into  a  miracle  of  perfection 


60 


CREATION. 


before    returning    to   earth   a   clear,    pure, 
sparkling  gem. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Metallic  Mineral  Formations. 

In  treating  of  metals  the  necessity  is 
involved,  in  the  first  place,  of  seeking  out 
the  origin  of  mineral  productive  develop- 
ment. 

It  is  shown  from  the  most  careful  chem- 
ical analysis  that  all  mineral  products  are  a 
combination  of  specific  gases  with  a  base. 
This  being  the  case,  it  naturally  follows  that 
under  favorable  conditions  they  may  be  self- 
producing.       This    problem    proves    itself 
more  clearly  from  the  fact  that  heat,  prop- 
erly combined  and  applied,  is  adequate  to 
the    reduction    of  all    minerals   to    original 
bases,   by    evolving   the    constituent   gases, 
showing    that   these    mineral    developments 
must  have  been  originally  the  offspring  of  a 
specific  action,  brought  about  by  a  natural 
combining  of  predominating  constituents. 

(61) 


CREATION. 


As  the  surface-soil,  in  a  great  measure, 
must  be  in  a  productive  condition  before  it 
can  yield  a  specified  order  of  plants,  and 
must  contain  the  elements,  including  heat 
and  moisture,  before  any  result  can  be 
looked  for — so,  also,  in  like  manner,  it  is 
essential  for  the  substrata  to  be  possessed 
of  certain  conditions  in  order  to  develop 
mineral  growth. 

The  continuous  action  of  heat  going  on 
in  the  deep  recesses  of  the  earth  renders 
practicable  this  synthetical  outcome  of  met- 
amorphic  transition  by  freeing  the  required 
gases,  which  then  unite  with  their  respective 
bases.  For  example,  the  combining  of  cer- 
tain gases  with  a  natural  base  gives  birth 
to  metallic  producing  substances  known  as 
mineral  ores,  viz. :  iron,  lead,  zinc,  copper, 
silver,  and  gold,  which  are,  by  the  well- 
known  smelting  process,  reduced  to  pure 
metals. 

Although  many  metals  are  found  in  a 
state  of  comparative  purity,  through  a 
natural  process  of  reducing  ores  to  the  pure 
product,  yet  this  change  is  evidently  the 
result  of  volcanic  action,  and  also  indicates 


METALLIC   MINERAL   FORMATIONS.  63 

that    these    precious    metals   are   produced 
from  the  very  deep  strata  of  the  earth ;  for 
instance,  when    the    gold-bearing   ores   are 
subjected  to  the  liquefying  effect  of  volcanic 
heat,    the    gold,    as    well   as    other    molten 
masses,  is  thrown  out  by  the  eruptive  explo- 
sion, to  cool,  forming  vast  crystalline  rocks, 
known  as    gold-bearing   quartz,    while   the 
small  drops  which  form  and  are  thrown  out 
with  the  ashes  and  found  in  scales  or  glob- 
ules, recognized  as  scale  and  shotted  gold, 
are,  by  the  action  of  water,  carried  over  the 
surface  and  along  the   beds  of  rivers  and 
procured  by  diverting  the  course  and  wash- 
ing the  alluvium — this  is  known  as  placer 
gold,  although  it  must  of  necessity  get  its 
birth  through  the  original  chemical  action 
before  being  able  to  yield  this  specific  result. 
All  metallic  products  follow  out  about 
the  same  natural  law,  each  having  its  dis- 
tinctive inductive  procedure   tending  to   its 
separate    growth,   and    all    being   produced 
under  different  conditions,  but  clearly  adher- 
ing to  the  principles  of  a  fixed  law,  which 
neither  yields  nor  is  broken  throughout  the 
many  and  mysterious  operations  of  nature. 


64  CREATION. 

and  indicating  that  everything  is  guided  by 
an  unerring  hand. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Physical  Surface  Construction. 

By  scanning  the  broad  expanse  of  na- 
ture's chart  it  is  unmistakably  apparent  that 
the  earth's  crust  has  at  intervals  undergone 
wonderful  geographical  changes.  The  fos- 
sils in  different  formations  serve  as  charac- 
ters to  fully  explain  the  numerous  transmuta- 
tions which  time's  operations  have  wrought. 

The  pampas  of  the  south  and  the  broad 
prairies  of  the  north,  on   the  continent  of 
America,    furnish    evidence    that   at    some 
period  in  time's  past  history  tliey  were  the 
beds  of  vast  oceans,  yielding  the  element  of 
subsistence    to    numerous    tribes  of  animal 
life,  which  under  no  possibility  could  exist 
out  of  the  water,  thus  showing  that  portions 
of  this    earth's  crust,   where   at   one  time, 
beneath    the    rolling    billows    sported    the 
whale,  the  dolphin,  and  the  vicious  shark, 
afterward   afforded  a  retreat  for  the  bison 
and   the   antelope,    and    now    produce    the 

(65) 


66  CREATION. 

means  of  sustenance  to  millions  of  man- 
kind. 

The  sandy  desert  plains  of  Asia  and 
Africa  give  more  recent  evidence  of  the  sub- 
sidence of  the  waters,  which  periodically 
deluged  the  surface  of  the  globe.  This  forms 
another  link  in  the  chain  of  evidence,  which 
it  is  possible  to  trace  out  unbroken  until  its 
completion. 

Another  geological  mystery  presents 
itself  for  solution  in  the  indisputable  evi- 
dence that  portions  of  the  earth's  surface 
within  the  regions  of  the  temperate  and 
tropical  zones  clearly  show  traces  of  a  past 
period  of  perpetual  ice,  which,  according  to 
their  present  altitude,  would  be  a  physical 
impossibility.  We  also  have  proofs  in  fos- 
sils of  tropical  plants  and  animals  exhumed 
from  glaciers,  of  mountain  regions  which 
are  and  have  been  crowned  with  perpetual 
snow  for  an  unknown  period. 

These  circumstances  lead  to  the  sure 
conclusion  that  this  condition  of  things  owes 
its  origin  to  the  sinking  and  rising  of  the 
surface  of  the  earth,  which  has  already  been 
shown  to  be  one  of  the  essential  events  of 


PHYSICAL   SURFACE   CONSTRUCTION.  67 

nature's  process  following  the  great  destruc- 
tion of  substrata  through  heat  action,  and 
thereby  opening  up  leagues  of  cavernous 
space,  which  in  time  must  be  filled  in  from 
the  surface. 

The  crust  of  the  earth  gradually  weak- 
ens and  suddenly  gives  way,  to  be  precipi- 
tated into  the  immeasurable  depths,  trans- 
posing lofty  mountains  to  occupy  the  places 
of  the  bed  of  the  seas,  while  in  turn  from 
ocean  depths  the  mountain  ranges  rise, 
which  slept  securely,  undisturbed  while 
silent  centuries  passed  by,  and  now  stand  as 
immovable  sentinels,  proclaiming  the  edict 
of  the  flood,  ''  thus  far  shalt  thou  go  and  no 
farther." 

Each  operation,  though  wonderful  in  all 
its  proportions,  is  nothing  more  than  the 
fulfillment  of  a  law  of  natural  philoso])hy. 
This  view  of  things  fully  elucidates  all 
geological  problems,  which  otherwise  would 
still  remain  enshrined  in  mvsterv. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Philosophy  of  Matter. 

Haying  thus  far  gone  through  with 
many  of  the  phases  of  organic  transforma- 
tions, there  appears  to  be  a  universal  phys- 
ical testimony  bearing  out  the  conclusion 
that  no  supernatural  revelation  or  divine 
inspiration  can  be  looked  for  to  cast  light 
on  the  subject  under  consideration,  but  a 
solution  of  the  problem  must  be  gathered 
from  a  close  perusal  of  the  book  of  nature, 
the  pages  of  which  extend  over  the  length 
and  breadth  of  the  earth,  stamped  in  distinct 
hieroglyphical  imprints  so  plain  and  with 
such  precision  as  to  be  deciphered  by  all 
nations  of  the  globe. 

No  confounding  of  tongues  nor  miscon- 
struction of  language  could  have  power  to 
obliterate  a  single  syllable  from  one  of  the 
many  leaves  of  this  great  book  containing 
more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
millions  of  pages,  each  one  of  these  noting 
(68) 


PHILOSOPHY   OF   MATTER.  69 

accurately  the  annual  transactions  of  time's 
intricate  work  since  the  ushering  in  of  the 
fact  of  first  life,  and  from  these  all  deduc- 
tions lead  to  one  and  the  same  conclusion, 
viz. :  that  out  of  the  two  original  sources 
come  every  spark  of  nature's  offspring. 

And  now  admitting  the  facts  set  forth  to 
be  sufficiently  well  founded,  their  principles 
must  propagate  other  truths,  and,  further- 
more, disclose  new  wonders,  and  so  continue 
their  onward  march  until  that  period 
arrives  when  the  billows  of  time  break 
against  the  shores  of  eternity  and  burst  into 
curling  vapors,  to  be  dissolved  and  lost  in 
the  mysterious  regions  of  boundless  space, 
consummating  nature's  allotted  task  and 
also  bringing  about  the  fulfillment  of  the 
great  prophecy  that  all  material  substances 
shall  be  destroyed,  and  even  time  itself  must 
terminate.  Notwithstanding  that  appalling 
and  sublime  finale,  it  would  not  within  itself 
necessarily  result  in  final  destruction.  The 
disintegrated  atoms  could  by  natural  reac- 
tion combine  again  through  the  process  of 
attraction  and  adhesion,  thereby  reconstruct- 
ing the  lost  world,  as  well  as  marking  the 


TO  CREATION. 

advent  of  a  roll  of  other  time,  verifying  the 
inspiration  of  a  new  heaven  and  a  new 
earth,  to  be  gladdened  by  the  rising  of  a  new 
sun  to  embrace  the  pure,  clear,  sparkling 
waters  of  a  new  ocean,  and  with  the  same 
power  to  again  create  First  Life,  thus  form- 
ing the  last  link  necessary  to  complete  the 
great  chain  of  events  compassing  time  and 
eternity. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  Helationship  of  Mind  and  Matter. 

Having  heretofore  refrained  from  com- 
menting in  any  way  upon  the  mental  philos- 
ophy of  animate  existence,  I  hope  to  be 
pardoned  for  venturing  a  few  thoughts  in 
connection  with  mind  and  matter. 

It  seems,  through  philosophical  reason- 
ing, that  the  soul  of  man  is  a  concentration 
of  a  certain  individuahty  held  together  by 
the  body  of  the  possessor,  forming  an  iden- 
tity  entirely  belonging  to  that    personage, 
and  in  no  manner  connected  by  any  other 
power,  force,  or  characteristics.      There  can 
in  nowise  be  any  outside  party  interest  pos- 
sessed, but  it  must  be  in  absolute  ownership 
of  the  custodian— but  the    expansion   and 
development   in   a    great    measure    can    be 
assisted  by  the  influence  and  interminghng 
of  surrounding  circumstances.      After   the 
dissolution  of  the  mind  and  body  the  tan- 

(11) 


72  CREATION. 

gible  intercourse  is  lost  to  all  material  com- 
munications ;  apparently  the  link  that  binds 
mind  to  matter  is  severed,  and  absolutely 
annihilated.  All  former  relationship  now 
stops. 

Nevertheless  there  is  an  instinctive 
monition  installed  in  the  mind  of  everyone 
that  points  to  a  future  continuation  of  an 
individuality  which  will  be  perpetuated, 
endowing  each  identity  with  an  existence  of 
immortality. 

After  having  throw^n  off  the  bonds  of  cor- 
ruption, the  immortal  part  is  freed  from  all 
the  cares  of  mortal  existence.  Conclusively, 
the  soul  now  enters  the  realms  of  bliss  ; 
hence  there  is  no  further  requirement  for 
intercommunications  of  the  terrestrial  and 
celestial  relationship.  The  mind,  being  now 
disenthralled  from  the  fetters  of  mortality, 
severs  all  alliance  coincident  in  any  way 
with  its  future  and  perpetual  existence. 

Unquestionably  the  most  natural  deduc- 
tions to  be  drawn  from  the  foregoing  prem- 
ises are  that  the  great  aim  and  end  of  life 
should  be  to  expand  the  mind  to  the  great- 
est possible  extent  so  as  to  qualify  the  soul 


THE  RELATIONSHIP  OP  MIND  AND  MATTER.         75 

for  a  higher  sphere  beyond  the  tabernacle 
of  this  flesh. 

Life,  beyond  doubt,  is  a  gift  in  trust 
from  the  Great  Source  of  vitality,  and  the 
possessor  is  simply  occupying  a  position  ot 
stewardship  temporarily. 


SUPPLEMENT. 


FIRST  LIFE. 

Through  the  Creator's  power  ordained 
Spontaneous  sparks  the  life  proclaimed 
With  laws  decreed  and  orders  given 
The  act  was  done  conceived  in  heaven. 


CHAPTEE  XVIII. 

The  Philosophy  of  Life,  or  a  Religion 
OF  Thought. 

Moral  Philosophy  is  the  most  feasible 
faith  which  is  hkely  to  become  the  basis  of 
a  universal  following.  It  bars  none  from 
absolute  freedom  to  membership.  The  only 
conditions  are  a  full  determination  to  act  in 
accord  with  righteousness,  justice,  goodness, 
and  truth  ;  also  to  disclaim  all  mythological 
obligations;  but  to  observe  a  strict  adherence 
to  the  one  great  source  of  safety,  whicli  is 
comprehended  in  the  combined  words:  right- 
eousness and  justice.  This  faith  has  no 
mystery,  no  false  hope,  no  hidden  device, 
no  unknown  land  of  promise,  but  possesses 
all  the  attributes  of  the  Creator  and  Disposer 
of  the  workings  of  animate  life.  No  doubt 
but  that  the  adoption  of  this  plain  course 
would  bring  about  universal  happiness  to 
mankind  and  dispel  the  desire  to  choose  evil 
for  good,  crooked  for  straight,  but  rather  in- 

(77) 


T8  CREATION. 

stall  a  pleasurable  satisfaction  in  the  onward 
march  toward  that  unending  state  with  which 
death  will  consummate  the  crowning  act  es- 
sential to  an  immortal  existence. 

When  temporal  existence  leads  up  to 
completion,  time  will  then  dissolve  and  be 
lost  to  this  special  representative,  but  may 
be  continued  through  the  insertion  of  another 
link  to  that  endless  chain  representing  eter- 
nity. Every  hour  fulfills  the  penalty  of 
myriads  of  earthly  tenants;  an  act  essential 
to  the  release  of  mind  from  the  fetters  of  mat- 
ter, the  single  possible  method  of  freeing  the 
soul  to  occupy  its  assignment,  which  can 
only  be  purchased  through  an  expiation  for 
accepting  vitalization.  The  disembodiment 
of  the  mind  brings  new  life,  new  light,  as 
well  as  a  perpetual  abiding-place  to  the  re- 
generate spirit.  Tangible  evidence,  com- 
bined with  philosophical  reasoning,  points  to 
a  mental  expansion  befitting  to  individual 
classification,  showing  cause  for  the  thought 
that  there  are  higher  and  lower  circles  of 
spiritual  destiny,  notwithstanding  each  in  its 
respective  locality  is  in  full  possession  of  per- 
fect immunity  from  earthly  responsibilities. 


THE    PHILOSOPHY    OF    LIFE.  79 

However,  it  would  seem  that  there  might  be 
a  possibility  that  very  heinous,  rebellious,  and 
perverse  actions  while  serving  the  time  of 
mortal  incarceration  could  provoke  an  eternal 
condemnation,  thereby  completely  annihilat- 
ing that  special  identity.  The  act  of  self- 
destruction  would  indicate  by  direct  evidence 
that  the  creature  has  lifted  his  hand  against 
the  edict  of  the  Creator  in  an  attempt  to 
shorten  the  sentence  pronounced  upon  mor- 
tals, verifying  the  prediction  that  there  is  a 
sin  even  unto  spiritual  death.  Nevertheless, 
many  dim  imprints  which  gleam  through 
Heaven's  portals  render  sufficient  encour- 
agement for  mortals  to  train  the  mind  up  to 
the  highest  possible  grade  so  as  to  fit  it  for 
a  perpetual  sojourn.  Viewing  future  hope 
through  this  channel,  how  easy  it  would  be 
to  bear  the  yoke  that  couples  mind  with 
matter ! 

After  all  things  being  considered,  natural 
philosophy  seems  clearly  and  simply  to  verify 
the  premises  that  the  primary  act  of  vitali- 
zation  is  a  consequence  essential  to  the  ac- 
ceptation of  death  as  a  condition  which  must 
absolutely  follow,  also  showing  that  the  com- 


80  CREATION. 

ing  in  contact  of  counterpart  vital  sparks 
ignites  the  flame  that  dooms  to  final  destruc- 
tion. The  spontaneity  of  Hfe  carries  within 
it  an  inevitable  conclusion  that  life  is  the 
awaking  power,  and  death  a  restoration  of 
final  repose. 

Life  is  the  advent,  death  the  completion 
of  the  quickening  process,  thus  consummat- 
ing one  of  nature's  perfect  operations,  and 
showing  forth  the  sublimity  of  the  workings 
of  the  Creator. 

No  power,  no  force,  no  device  or  com- 
bined strength  would  be  adequate  to  reverse 
a  single  principle  of  the  machinery  of  nature's 
silent  progress,  even  if  all  the  combined 
momentum  of  millions  of  planets  that  rep- 
resent the  make-up  of  the  universe  were 
brought  to  bear  against  the  unlimited  power 
of  the  Creator;  it  would  be  as  the  ability  of 
a  single  sunbeam  to  dissolve  the  mist  of  im- 
penetrable darkness. 

The  source  of  wisdom  plans  out  from 
eternity  and  extends  to  the  same  limit. 
Notliing  can  stand  in  the  way  of  tliis  power 
and  its  operations  from  the  governing  of  the 
universe   to    the   creation    of  an   atom;    all 


THE   PHILOSOPHY    OF   LIFE.  81 

must  be   subject  to   the   same  law  and  be 
guided  by  the  same  hand.     Conclusively,  the 
lesson  of  natural  philosophy  teaches  through 
instructions,  developed  by  concurrent  events, 
the  boundless  powers  of  the  Creator  and  the 
insignificance  of  the  creature,  thus  admon- 
ishing all  of  animate  life  to  move  in  strict 
obeyance  with  nature's  laws;  any  act  of  re- 
bellion is  a  sure  prelude  to  absolute  destruc- 
tion.      If  rational  intelhgence  was  brought 
in  accord  with  natural  methods,  most  of  the 
ills  of  life  could  be  averted,  and  existence 
on  this  planet  might  be  changed  to  a  course 
of  peaceful  sojourn.     Any  theory  or  practice 
antagonizing  the  object  of  nature's  process 
will  prove  to  be  a  blight  and  a  sure  cause 
of  absolute  disappointment.     Any  device  or 
plan  against  the  consummation  of  natural 
law  is  the  acceptation  of  utter  defeat.     Any 
voice  lifted  up  against  the  great  first  cause 
is  quickly  hushed  to  silent  oblivion.     Any 
personality  that  offers  immunity  for  a  trans- 
gression  of  nature's   immutable   commands 
will  be   swept   out   of  existence,   but   strict 
obedience  to  the  true  principle  of  life  is  the 
solitary    method   of  attaining   advancement 


82 


CREATION. 


toward  that  goal  which  instinct  promises  tlie 
mind  and  impels  the  soul  to  strive  after. 
Tliis  ultimatum  of  hope,  this  consummation 
of  vital  anticipation,  this  resolving  of  the 
mortal  into  immortality  are  the  finish  to  the 
last  act  necessary  to  separate  the  gold  of 
purity  from  the  dross  of  matter.  Hence, 
Phoenix-like,  new  life  rises  out  of  the  ashes 
of  destruction.  Thus  ends  the  beginning 
and  abolishes  time — yet  regenerate  spirits 
go  on  forever. 


PROTOBIOLOGY, 


OR 


ANALYTICAL  PHILOSOPHY. 


In  conclusion,  permit  me  to  say  that, 
having  exhausted  all  deductive  methods  of 
arriving  at  other  philosophical  conclusions, 
v^ould  suggest  to  some  liberal  handed 
philanthropist  to  provide  a  powerful  micro- 
scope, together  with  a  suitable  laboratory 
for  analytical  and  synthetical  manipulations, 
and  in  return  I  will  demonstrate  in  general 
every  physical  mystery  either  animate  or 
inanimate  coincident  with  the  make-up  of 
this  planet. 

Joseph  W.  McEwen. 

332  South  19th  Street, 

Philadelphia,  Pa. 


(83) 


OPINIONS  OF  THE  PRESS. 


"An  Essay  on  Creation"  (F.  A.  Davis  Company,  Philadel- 
phia), by  Joseph  W.  McEwen,  M.D.,  is  the  argument  of  a  biologist 
and  student  of  science  for  the  complete  reconciliation  of  science 
and  revealed  religion.  He  says:  "The  existence  of  God,  or  a  su- 
preme exponent  possessing  unlimited  power,  coupled  with  all  the 
attributes  necessary  to  combine  perpetuity  and  supremacy,  is  the 
conviction  of  every  true  scientist;  on  this  faith  we  rest  the 
strongest  evidence  of  natural  development."  It  is  in  conformity 
with  this  reverent  belief  that  Dr.  McEwen  briefly  surveys  the  field 
of  modern  biological  and  physical  science  and  presents  his  deduc- 
,  tions  with  perspicuity,  fullness  of  knowledge,  and  cogency  of 
reason.— T/^e  Press,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  March  30,  1901. 


"An  Essay  on  Creation,  Comprising  the  Beginning,  Course, 
and  End  of  Time."  By  Joseph  W.  McEwen,  M.D.  Philadelphia, 
F.  A.  Davis  Company,  1900.  Dr.  McEwen  leads  us  into  a  vast 
subject  in  this  work.  It  is  one  which  is  necessarily  and  perennially 
fascinating  to  thoughtful  minds.  At  many  points  these  abstruse 
questions  touch  the  wide  periphery  of  medical  science  and  thought. 
Therefore  it  need  occasion  no  surprise  if  from  time  the  subject  is 
approached  from  a  fresh  point  of  view  by  one  whose  training  has 
been  in  the  schools  and  practice  of  medicine.  This  book  is  not 
large,  and  is  well  worth  perusal.  In  brief  chapters  the  author  ad- 
vances from  one  end  to  the  other  of  its  course  in  logical  continu- 
ity .—^/ie  Medical  Bulletin,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  July,  1900. 


"An  Essay  on  Creation,"  by  Joseph  W.  McEwen,  M.D.,  has 
been  issued  by  the  F.  A.  Davis  Company,  Philadelphia.  It  traces 
the  history  of  matter  and  life  from  their  origin,  and  while  draw- 
ing facts  from  nature  alone,  expresses  a  belief  in  the  existence  of 
life  apart  from  physical  accompaniments.  To  the  student  of  bi- 
ology the  work  will  especially  appeal.-T/ie  Call,  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
October  20.  1900. 


86  OPINIONS    OF    THE    PRESS. 

The  F.  A.  Davis  Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia,  issue  "An 
Essay  on  Creation,  Comprehending  the  Beginning,  Course,  and  End 
of  Time,"  by  Joseph  W.  McEwen,  M.D.  This  is  a  somewhat  ambi- 
tious attempt  to  explain  the  processes  of  the  creation,  growth,  and 
final  destiny  of  the  universe  founded  on  the  idea  of  an  omnipotent 
Creator  who  works  in  the  simplest  manner  to  accomplish  his  ends. 
Evolution  from  a  germ  cell  for  all  that  is  living  and  from  the  effect 
of  gravity  and  motion  on  elementary  gases  for  all  non-living  matter 
is  the  process.  The  thoughts  are  not  new,  but  they  are  marshaled 
in  an  orderly  and  concise  way.  Immortality  of  the  soul  is  a  part 
of  the  natural  scheme  of  creation  and  existence. — Nebraska  State 
Journal,  October  22,  1900. 


In  "An  Essay  on  Creation"  Dr.  Joseph  W.  McEwen  seeks  to 
reconcile  religion  and  certain  accepted  theories  of  modern  science 
apparently  in  conflict  with  it.  F.  A.  Davis  Company,  Philadel- 
phia.— Globe  Democrat,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  October  20,  1900. 


We  have  received  from  the  author,  Dr.  Joseph  W.  McEwen,  a 
volume  containing  "An  Essay  on  Creation,  Comprehending  the 
Beginning,  Course^  and  End  of  Time."  He  states  that  he  is  con- 
vinced that  there  is  no  real  conflict  between  religion  and  science, 
and  that  the  true  God  is  a  power  holding  every  operation  of  nature 
in  the  hollow  of  his  hand.  Dr.  McEwen  then  proceeds  to  discuss 
the  origin  of  this  planet,  life  development,  nature's  defense  against 
disease,  etc.  He  treats,  as  well,  of  the  origin  of  minerals,  forma- 
tion of  gas  and  oil,  metallic  mineral  formations,  the  philosophy 
of  matter,  and  the  relationships  of  mind  and  matter.  The  mind 
of  man  is  never  weary  of  speculating  upon  cause  and  effect  and 
the  problems  of  the  present  and  the  future.  Therefore,  many 
readers  will  follow  this  writer  with  interest  in  his  wandering 
through  time  and  space,  and  will,  possibly,  arrive  at  the  same 
conclusions. — Portland  Daily  Press,  Portland,  Me.,  November  21, 
1900. 


"An  Essay  on  Creation."  In  a  book  of  about  seventy  pages 
Dr.  Joseph  W.  McEwen  explains  the  origin  of  this  planet,  examines 
the  primal  spark  of  vitality,  fixes  the  minimum  time  of  organic 

HAVplnnmpnf  nrt  +Iip  pn  rf  Ii   at  1  9;")  000  000  of  von  vs.  pvnlif-atps  all  thp 


OPINIONS   OF    THE   PRESS.  8*7 

principal  processes  of  nature,  explains  the  origin  of  minerals  and 
gas  and  oil,  presents  a  philosophy  of  mind  and  matter,  and  proph- 
esies of  a  period  when  the  billows  of  time  will  break  on  the 
shores  of  eternity,  and  burst  into  curling  vapors.  It  will  prob- 
ably be  a  long  while  before  any  competitor  breaks  the  doctor's 
record  by  doing  as  much  as  this  in  sixty  pages.  F.  A.  Davis  Com- 
pany, Philadelphia. — News  Letter,  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  November 
10,  1900. 


"An  Essay  on  Creation."  By  Joseph  W.  McEwen,  M.D.  F.  A. 
Davis  Company,  Philadelphia,  Pa.  In  the  brief  compass  of  this 
single  volume  Dr.  McEwen  unfolds  his  theory  of  creation,  "Com- 
prehending the  Beginning,  Course,  and  End  of  Time."  He  believes 
in  God  and  evolution,  and  says  that  life  is  a  "gift  in  trust  from 
the  great  source  of  vitality,  and  the  possessor  is  simply  occupying 
a  position  of  stewardship  temporarily." — Picayune,  New  Orleans, 
La.,  October  28,  1900. 


"An  Essay  on  Creation,"  by  Joseph  W.  McEwen,  M.D.,  is  an 
effort  to  reconcile  the  antagonizing  theories  of  science  with  divine 
revelations.  The  essay  therefore  develops  an  interesting  line  of 
reasoning  based  upon  the  author's  theories  of  the  origin  of  the 
planet,  development  of  life,  philosophy  of  matter,  and  the  relation 
of  mind  to  matter.  The  book  is  published  by  the  F.  A.  Davis 
Company,  Philadelphia. — Express,  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  February  27, 
1901. 


1  1 


012  01007  6083 


